Negotiations expected to resume next week for tourism contract

Another meeting between the city of Shawnee subcommittee and the chamber of commerce for a new contract for tourism may take place as early as next week.

Carmen Bourlon

Another meeting between the city of Shawnee subcommittee and the chamber of commerce for a new contract for tourism may take place as early as next week.

Shawnee City Commissioner Steve Smith, a member of the subcommittee, said both parties are still working on an agreeable contract.

“It’s making progress,” Smith said.

After the previous meeting, Mark Clover, legal counsel for the Greater Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce, and City Attorney Mary Ann Karns, began work on a contract that would satisfy both parties.

The negotiations for a new contract began after Mainord, and commissioners Linda Agee and Keith Hall took office Tuesday, Sept. 4.

Prior to the new commissioners taking office, the previous city commission severed an 18-year contract with the chamber of commerce for tourism promotion. The contract creates the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), which is funded through the Hotel Occupancy Surcharge. Any tourism promotion is contracted through the CVB.

The subcommittee for city commission, consisting of Mayor Wes Mainord, City Manager Brian McDougal, Smith and Karns, met Monday to discuss questions and concerns from the chamber, Smith said.

The answers to the questions were sent back to the chamber Tuesday, he added.

No new meeting will likely be scheduled until a contract can be discussed, but Smith expects that will be after the Monday, Oct 1, city commission meeting.

“The attitudes are great on both sides, so I’m optimistic,” he added.

“Our goal is to get together next week,” Mainord said.

A meeting this week would be difficult, as the city commissioners are in Oklahoma City for training, Mainord added.

Things will remain as they are with the CVB until a new contract is completed, Nancy Keith, chamber president/CEO, said.

“The subcommittee knows what we want and we know what they want,” Keith said. “We feel we’ll get a contract.”